Hartlepool United vs Walsall

Monkhouse earns Pools points

Andy Monkhouse earned Hartlepool United a first home win of the season after a 2-1 victory over Walsall on Saturday.

Monkhouse headed in after 56 minutes to engineer victory at the fourth time of asking, but for the Saddlers the misery continues after their sixth game without a win.

Yet the visitors took the lead after nine minutes when a bout of head tennis inside the home penalty area led to Julian Gray steering a volley past keeper Jake Kean.

Antony Sweeney levelled on 44 minutes though, when his angled overhead kick went over goalkeeper Jon Brain into the far corner.

Monkhouse's goal, a free header from an Evan Horwood free-kick put Pools in front after the break and the left-winger had another chance from a similar position soon after, but nodded over.

The Saddlers' twice went close to a late leveller. First after 86 minutes, Kean saved low to keep out a drive from Reuben Reid, before he raced off his line to smother the striker when he was in on goal.